Carton



April 28, 1959 J. C. WILSN 2,884,175

' CARTON Filed June 19, 1957 IIIIIIIIIIIA United States Patent O CARTON James C. Wilson, Jacksonville, Fla., assignor to National Container Corporation, a corporation of h10 Application June 19, 1957, Serial No. 666,635

5 Claims. (Cl. 229 5.5)

This invention generally relates to cartons. More parferred to have been formed in any one of several shapes.

Conventionally, the tab or tongue members are formed along one edge of a rectangular blank formed of flexible sheet material, of which material paperboard or so-called chip-board kare illustrative. .f

One arrangement used heretofore has been tabs having the configuration of a square. The square tabs are achieved by a series of slits perpendicular to thebottom edge of the rectangular blank. When the two edges transverse to the slitted edge are then brought together and fastened, there -is defined a tubular body having a plurality o'f square tab extensions which can be utilized in the fashion described hereinbefore.

Another arrangement which has been used heretofore is to form triangular tabs by imparting to one edge of the blank a series of inverted V-shaped notchesso spaced that the outermost extremity 'of the tab defines the apex of a triangle. vAnother arrangement which has been used heretofore are tabs likewise delined by a series of inverted V- shaped notches; however, in this arrangement, the inverted V-shaped notches are spaced further apart so that the tab portions, left by the notches, define trapezoids having their minor base constituting the outermost extremity of the tab and their major base thereafter. As indicated hereinbefore, after the tabs, whether they be square, triangular, or uniform trapezoids, have been formed in the edge of a rectangular blank, the two side edges transverse to that edge are brought together in overlapping relationship and fastened by stitching, stapling, or an adhesive. Thereupon, a disc having a diameter approximating the diameter of the thus formed cylinder is inserted so that its circumference is in substantial registry with the bases of the tabs, or in registry with a score line impressed adjacent the bases of the tabs inthe body member. While the disc is supported in this position, a stitching operation is performedy in which motion between a suitable stitching head and the supported drum structure is effected, whereby the tab members arefolded under into surface abutment with the closure dscand stitched, stapled, or otherwise atiixed tothe disc member to form a unitary package.

Cartons of this general type are manufactured for the purpose of providing non-leaking containers for flowable material such as powder, grain, and a Variety of viscous materials such as asphalt, tar, and the like.

Unfortunately, it. is found that tabs of the type and 2,884,175 P at'entedvApr. 28, 1959 ICW shape described are undesirable in many respects. Thus, it is found that thetriangular tabs do not yield a unitary package which lis sufficiently leak-proof for many products, particularly of theliquid variety. Furtherfore, the drum tabs formed in any of the shapes described above are beset with one very serious difficulty. Thus, it is found particularly distressing that the stitching or stapling operation, wherein thetab is folded into abutment with the disc and stitched or stapled, is frequently accompanied by a jamming ofthe stitching'or stapling machine. It is obvious that frequent jamming Vof stitching and stapling machines must resultin material and expensive loss in time in clearing such machines of the jammed carton in order that operation of the `machine may be resumed. The jamming diliiculty also'ffrequently results in the production of drums evidencingpoor fastening, which drums thereafter are characterizcdby unsatisfactory seal.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a carton structure, and particularly, a carton structure employing a closure arrangement which overcomes the above enumerated objections.

It is a particular object of this invention to provide a drum construction which is formed from a minimum of the material of construction, and is easily and economically formed into a unitary non-leaking package,`and

' which is easily and speedily utilized in conventional kstitching, stapling, or other fastening` operations.

The specific nature of kthis invention, as well Aasother objects and advantages thereof, will become apparent to those skilled` in the art from the following detailed description,taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, onA which by way of example only, are illustrated the preferred embodiments of thisinvention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view-of a blank utilized in forming a principal body member used in the construction of this invention. v

Fig. 2 is a sideelevation view of a construction formed from the blank shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View, partially broken, of a partially assembled drum employing the construction of this invention.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view with parts broken away, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view with parts broken away, illustrating the assembly of a carton employing the construction of this invention.

Basically, the present inventioncomprises a drum construction including a disc closure and employing tabs extending axially from the drum for foldable surface abutment with the disc, which tabs are in the form of a series of trapezoids, and in which series adjacent tabs are in inverted relationship with respect to each other.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, there is illustrated in Fig. 1 a generally rectangular blank 11. The blank has opposed side edges 13 and 13a, and an upper edge 12a transverse thereto. Along the lower edge 12 of the blank there is formed va series, designated 20, of tabs, as more particularly described hereinafter. also has a cutaway corner 24 at the juncture of edge 13a and the edge 12. The cutaway serves to provide a iap portion 14 thereabove which may be brought into overlapping relationship with the edge 13, as at 16 (Fig. 2), to form the blank into the form of a cylinder. Staples 17 may be employed at the area of overlap 16 to hold the structure in cylindrical form. The blank is provided with score lines 14a which are parallel to the edges 13 and 13a and permit the blank tobe formed into cylindrical shape and then compressed laterally and about the score lines 14a to yield a at package for convenience of shipping from the manufacturer to the customer. The blank also The blank I contains a score line 18 transverse to the score lines 14a, and spaced adjacent the4 series of tabs 20. This latter score line permits foldabilityof the tabs and may also serve as a seat for the closure, disc in forming the ultimate unitary package. In accordance with this invention, it has been found that the series of tabs 20 should be of a particular shape in order to achieve the objectives of the invention. The tabs'are formed by a plurality of slits 22 which are angular-to the axis of the ultimate cylinder, and are such as to dene a series of trapezoidal tabs in which half of the trapezoids, designated 20a, are upright (have their minor base adjacentthe' score line 18), and the other half, 20h, are inverted (have their major base adjacent the score line 18). Adjacent trapezoidal tabs are thereby inverted with respect to each other and, preferably, the series of tabs will consist of an even number so that the end tab in theseries and also the cut-out corner 24 will fit in the cut-'out corner adjacent to the tab at the other end of the series and thereby provide a uniform series of alternatingly inverted trapezoidal tabs which, in their 'axially extending position, Vare not overlapped. The slits 22 which define the tabs should not extend all the way to the score line 18, but should leave a portion 23 therebetween. This promotes sealing eflciency of the construction. The tabs designated 20a may be conveniently referred to as major tabs and the tabs designated 20h may be conveniently referred to as minor tabs.

The tubular construction illustrated in Fig. 2 is then positioned over a circular table 31 mounted on a supporting shaft 31a, with the tabs extending upwardly and with the score line in alignment with the top surface of the table. A disc 19 is then placed on the top surface of the table member in alignment with therscore line 18. A stitching head 32, suitably mounted, including an upwardly curving shoe member 33 is swung into a position above the tabs, whereupon relative movement is effected between the mountedtubular construction and the stitching head so that the shoe member successively contacts the tabs, forcing them inwardly into abutment with the disc 19a, whereupon they are immediately and successively stitched as shown inFgs. 3 and 5. It can be seen that as a tab 34 is inclined inwardly from the vertical by the shoe member 33, an inner portion 3S thereof engages the next succeding tab 36, inclining it inwardly. It, in turn, engages the'next tab in like fashion, etc. When the tabs are completely bent over in surface abutment with the disc 19, and stitched thereto as by staple 17a (Fig. 3), ear portions of the major tab either overlap or underlieV the minor tab. This overlap promotes the sealing efficiency of the unitary package. Preferably, the major tabs (designated 20a) are formed to be larger than the minor'tabs' (designated 20b) so that the area of overlap will be grea=terbut should should not be so large that the lower extremities of the major tabs themselves overlap, inasmuch as there would then be provided three layers of tabs at this portion of the overlap. The most ideal situationy is illustrated in Fig. 3, wherein the relative size-of the major and minor tabs is such that the lower corners of the ear portions of the major tabs just meet when the tabsy are in folded over position, as indicated at 39 (Fig. 3). Utilizing tabs formed in accordance with the teachings of this invention, it was found that a stapling operation Was completed with little or no difficulty, in that no jamming of the stitching machine occurred andthe tabs folded easily inwardly into abutting surface contact with lthe disc member. As indicated hereinbefrore, utilization of square tabsor the trapezoidal tabs caused frequent jamming ofl the stapling machine. While it is not intended to be bound by theory, it is` believed that this jamming was caused by frictional contact between adjacent edges of adjacent tabs. The frictional Contact is apparently sutlcient to resist relative movement between the adjacent edges of adjacent tabs. While it is not known why the tabs according to this invention do not involve this diculty, it is believed that the angular relationship as between the adjacent edges of adjacent tabs and the transverse motion of the shoe member serve to reduce the frictional sliding contact therebetween to a minimum, thereby permitting easy folding over of the tabs with a minimum of interference.

Variations may be resorted to within the spirit of this invention and withoutdeparting from the scope thereover as dened in the appended' claims.

I claim:

l. A closure construction for a container, formed from a hollow cylindrical'body anda disc adapted to lit within said cylinder, said construction comprising an annular series of inwardly foldable tongue members extending axially from said cylinder, said tongue members being constructed in the form of trapezoids with their bases.y perpendicular to fthe axial height of said cylinder and each being inverted with respect to members adjacent thereto, the slant edges of adjacent members being separated by a slit, whereby portions of adjacent members will overlap when said members are folded inwardly into surface abutment' with said disc.

2. A carton formed of exible sheet material, said carton comprising a principal body member having a score line spaced from an edge to define a major section and a minor section, said major section having edges extending away from said score line and being adapted to overlap to form a tubular construction, adisc closure adaptedA to t within said tubular construction in registry with said" score line, and a plurality of'trapezoidal tongue members formed in said minor section by a plurality of slits extending angularly from said'first-mentioned edge to a point short of said score line and arranged to deiine a series of said trapezoidal tongue members, in which each member is inverted with respect to members adjacent thereto, whereby the adjacent edges of adjacent tongue members will overlap when folded about said score line into abutment'with said disc closure.

3. A carton construction comprising' a body member having a flap portion for overlapping engagement with said body member to form a tube, a` tongue-forming portion extending axially from saidv body and having a transverse score line therein, a disc closure adapted to register with said score line, andl a plurality of trapezoidally shaped tongue members formed by slitsV in said tongueforming portion, said tongues constituting an annular series containing an even number'of trapezoidal tongue members, one-half of which have their'minor base adjacent the score line` and one-halfhave their majorbase adjacent the score line in regular alternating sequence.

4. A carton structure asclaimedin claim 3, in which the tongue members which havetheir minor baseadjacent the score line are larger than the other tongue members in the series.

5. In a drum formed of exibleV sheet material, said drum including a tubular'body formed by overlapping end portions of a blank and a disc closure for another- Wise open end of said'tubular body, the improvement which comprises a series of trapezoidal tabs extendmg integrally-from said body, in non-overlapping relationship, each .of said tabs in said series beingv lnverted with respect to tabs on either side thereof, said tabs being adapted tol foldinto abutting'relationship with saididlsc.

References Cited'in the tileof `this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS` 

